Fruit slicing machine



April 3, 1934- A. M. ERICKSON 1,953,595

FRUIT SLICING MACHINE Filed Oct. 12. 1951 lNI ENTOR.

Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFEQE Claims. (Cl. 146-73) This invention relates to a slicing apparatus, and particularly to a machine for slicing cherries.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine for efiiciently slicing pitted cherries or the like material into halves, in continuous operation and by the use of a rotary table with. a carrying groove thereon and a knife overlying the groove to cut the cherries carried in the groove; means being provided to utilize the rotation of the table to feed the cherries into the groove, and means being provided to eject the sliced cherries or the like from the grooves and the table.

Other objects and advantages are to provide a machine for slicing cherries or the like, that will be superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness of operation, and facility and convenience in use and general efficiency.

In this specification and the annexed drawing, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is also -1 to be understood that in and by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied. The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine, partly in section.

The slicing machine constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly adapted to slice Maraschino cherries, but it can be also adapted to slice any other pitted cherries or fruit or the like.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a rotating table 6, on a rotating shaft 7, which is driven by a suitable mechanism 8. The shaft '7 is journaled in vertical position in a frame 9.

On the top face 11 of the table 6 is an annular groove 12 in the form of a furrow of semi-circular cross section. The groove 12 is preferably concentric with the shaft '7 and is formed near the outer periphery of the table 6.

A rotary disc knife 13 on a shaft 14 overlies a portion of the groove 12. The shaft 14 is also journaled on the frame 9, and is connected to the section 16, is disposed a pressure roller 17 fixed on a horizontal shaft 18 and connected by a transmission 19 to the drive mechanism of the machine so as to be rotated in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 2. The shaft 18 is journaled on suitable bearing brackets on the frame 9. The roller 17 is so spaced above the table face 11 and the groove 12 that it presses the cherries carried thereunder onto the groove 12 and holds them in place while the cherries are carried against the cutting edge of the knife 13.

The cherries are fed to the table 6 through a hopper 21, which is arranged eccentrically to the shaft 7. The hopper 21 is supported on overhead brackets 22 extended from the frame 9 so as to be held stationary relatively to the rotating table 6.

The hopper 21 has an outlet 23 at its bottom adjacent the top of the shaft '7 through which the cherries are deposited by gravity on the top of the table 6 near the center thereof. A substantially spirally bent shield 24 extends from the outlet 23 toward the outer periphery of the table 6 so that the shield intersects the plane of the groove at a point spaced from the side knife 13 where the sliced cherries are carried away from the knife 13. The shield 24 is at right angles to the plane of the face 11 of the table 6 and is disposed above the same so as to allow free rotation of the table 6 but not to leave sufficient clearance for the escapement of the cherries. The spiral of the shield 24 is preferably curved in the direction of the table rotation outwardly from the center, so that the cherries are forced by the centrifugal force of the table rotation to slide along side the inner face of the shield 24 toward and into the groove 12. The rotating movement of the table 6 assists in spreading the cherries alongside the shield 24 which guides them one by one, into the groove 12.

From the shield 24 extends an ejector projection 26 into the groove 12 so as to scoop the 'lower halves of the sliced cherries from the groove 12, thereby making space for the uncut cherries on the other side of the shield 24.

Above the knife 13 and from the outer end of the shield 24 extends a discharge chute 2'? to guide and discharge the upper halves of the out cherrice from the top of the knife 13 and also toreceive and discharge the lower halves of the cherries as they are scooped out of the groove 12 by the projection 26.

In operation the cherries or the like material to be out, are dumped into the hopper 21 and are discharged through the outlet 23, by gravity, onto the face 11 of the rotating table 6. The rotation of the table 6 rolls the cherries alongside the shield 24 into the groove 12, in which latter the cherries are carried to the pressure roller 17. The roller 17 holds the cherries in the groove 12 while the same are passed against the knife 13, to be cut by the latter. The upper and lower halves of the cherries are then ejected through the guiding discharge chute 2'7 onto a suitable container.

Having thus described this invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a rotary table having a groove on its face to carry objects to be sliced. and a knife overlying the groove to slice the object carried thereagainst; of a hopper having an outlet above the table; and a guide shield arranged to guide the objects rolling on the table from the hopper outlet to the groove.

2. The combination with a rotary table having a groove on its face to carry objects to be sliced, and a knife overlying the groove to slice the object carried thereagainst; of a hopper having an outlet above the table; a guide shield arranged to guide the objects rolling on the table from the hopper outlet to the groove, said shield intersecting the groove at a point spaced from the knife on the side Where the sliced objects leave the knife; and an ejector projection extended from the shield into the groove to eject the sliced objects carried thereagainst in the groove.

3. The combination with a rotary table having a groove on its face to carry objects to be sliced, and a knife overlying the groove to slice the object carried thereagainst; of a hopper having an outlet above the table; a guide shield arranged to guide the objects rolling on the table from the hopper outlet to the groove; and a pressure element overlying the groove in advance of the knife arranged to press the said objects in the groove as the same is passed to the knife.

4. The combination with a rotary table having a groove on its face to carry objects to be sliced, and a knife overlying the groove to slice the object carried thereagainst; of a hopper having an outlet above the table; a guide shield arranged to guide the objects rolling on the table from the hopper outlet to the groove; a pressure element overlying the groove in advance of the knife arranged to press the said objects in the groove as the same is passed to the knife, said shield intersecting the groove at a point spaced from the knife on the side where the sliced objects leave the knife; and an ejector projection extended from the shield into the groove to eject the sliced objects carried thereagainst in the groove.

5. The combination with a rotary table havingagroove on its face to carry objects to be sliced, and a knife overlying the groove to slice the object carried thereagainst; of a hopper having an outlet above the table; a guide shield arranged to guide the objects rolling on the table from the hopper outlet to the groove, the hopper outlet opening being near the center of the table to cause the rotation of the table to roll the objects; said shield being formed substantially spirally from the outlet opening toward the table periphery to intersect said groove at a point spaced from the side of the knife where the sliced objects are carried away from the knife to guide the objects into the groove.

ARVID M. ERICKSON. 

